Top 200 wines in 2024, #2, 99 points

Chateau Haut-Brion 1989

Chateau Haut-Brion 1989 got the nod over Chateau Haut Brion 1990 for the runner up spot. How come? The reason is because the 1989, drank in our 'best of first growths' series of dinners, was a nigh on perfect example of a wine which has hitherto been frustratingly variable. This bottle made me understand what all the fuss is about and why Ch Haut Brion 1989 commands such a premium over the 1990, and other legendary wines like Mouton ‘82. The 1990 Haut-Brion was about perfectly channeled power and concentration, the 1989 is about pure finesse. 

This was my note - short and sweet - like this post

Now we are talking. At last! A bottle of Haut-Brion 89 that lives up to its reputation. Some slight bricking, the surreal bouquet soars from the glass with scorched earth, gravel, graphite, herbs, olives, berries, cigar box and tobacco, and it follows through on the medium-bodied, taut, racy and seamless palate; a racehorse. It didn’t fall off as one or two naysayers were predicting and was riveting throughout. My wine of the night, and the group’s runner up … 99

Even though the group voted for Lafite 1996 as their wine of the night, the Haut Brion 1989 was in the sweet spot, whereas the Lafite is still at least a decade away from its peak drinking window. 

First among equals?